PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M Belkaid

Publications and source records attributed to M Belkaid.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

First molecular detection of R. conorii, R. aeschlimannii, and R. massiliae in ticks from Algeria.

Ticks collected in Northern Algeria between May 2001 and November 2003 were tested by PCR for the presence of Rickettsia spp. DNA using primer amplifying gltA and OmpA genes. Three different spotted fever group rickettsias were amplified from these ticks: R. Conorii subsp. P. conorii strain Malish in Rhipicephalus sanguineus, R. aeschlimannii in Hyalomma marginatum, and R. massiliae in Rhipicephalus turanicus. Our results confirm the presence of R. conorii in ticks in Algeria and provide the first detection of R. aeschlimannii and R. massiliae in Algeria.

Algeria↗
PubMed2004

[Detection of Leishmania infantum MON-24 in the dog].

Two forms of cutaneous leishmaniasis are endemic in Algeria. Zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania major is widespread in the steppe regions of the northern Sahara. Sporadic cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania infantum occurs in the north along the coastline. The main causative agent for the sporadic form is Leishmania infantum zymodeme MON-24. It has been isolated from the sandfly vector Phlebotomus perfiliewi. However all attempts to isolate this variant from dogs, i.e., the main reservoir of Leishmania infantum, have failed. The authors report the first successful detection of Leishmania infantum MON-24 in the dog.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

[Leishmaniasis in Algiers: epidemiologic data].

The authors review the situation on human and canine leishmaniasis observed in Algiers during the period 1990-1997. 1800 sera have been tested by IFAT. The frequency of canine leishmaniasis rises to 37%. 25% of the positive dogs are asymptomatic. The canine leishmaniasis annual fluctuations seem to vary from one year to another, with an increase of number of cases comparing with the last period. Human leishmaniasis is also increasing in Algiers, where 22 cases of HVL and 40 cases CL have been notified. Nine strains of Leishmania (5 from dogs and 4 from human) were isolated and identified by isoenzymes eletrophoresis technique. All stocks were belonging to Leishmania infantum complex. To complete the study, the seasonal dynamic of phlebotomine sandflies was carried out in the same area where 2959 specimens have been captured. The results showed the predominance of P. perniciosus and P. longicuspis, the main vectors of visceral leishmaniasis in Algeria.

Algeria↗
PubMed2001

Gp63 gene polymorphism and population structure of Leishmania donovani complex: influence of the host selection pressure?

The gp63 encoding genes were characterized by PCR-RFLP in 35 isolates representative of the Leishmania donovani complex (L. infantum, L. donovani, L. archibaldi and L. chagasi), with special attention to Mediterranean L. infantum from different geographical origins, and in separate groups from Old World Leishmania (L. major, L. tropica and L. aethiopica). The aim was to evaluate how the possible selective pressure by the host on these important surface proteins would influence structuring of our sample. Comparison was carried out with the structure obtained (i) from reported isoenzyme data, characters supposed to vary neutrally, and (ii) from PCR-RFLP analysis of gp63 inter-genic regions, containing nontranslated spacers and regulatory genes. Polymorphism within the gp63-encoding region, was much higher than in gp63 inter-genic regions. In the gp63 intra-genic dendrogram, the 4 species of L. donovani complex were discriminated and quite distinct from outgroups. Within L. infantum, geographical structuring was observed and did not overlap with the structure built-up from isoenzymes and inter-genic data. These results support the idea of a strong host-selection on gp63, at vector level but most of all at vertebrate (human or dog) immunological level. Furthermore, they illustrate how the nature of genetic characters may influence the perception of population structuring.

Algeria↗
PubMed2001

[Infantile visceral leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania infantum zymodeme MON-24 in Algeria].

In Algeria, visceral leishmaniasis is caused principally by Leishmania infantum MON-1, a common agent of the disease on the edges of the mediterranean basin. Other zymodemes (MON-34 and MON-80) of the same complex have also been isolated from immunologically competent patients. In the present study, the authors report the presence of Leishmania infantum MON-24, the main agent of cutaneous leishmaniasis in northern Algeria, in five children with visceral leishmaniasis.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Imported malaria in continental France in 1996.

Malaria ceased to be endemic in France in 1960, although sporadic cases were reported until 1970 in the department of Corse. No indigenous case of malaria have been reported since then. We report below the epidemiological data on imported malaria in 1996.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1998

[Iso-enzyme study of Echinococcus granulosus protoscoleces in Algeria].

The purpose of this study is to identity the strains of Echinococcus granulosus the causative agent of unilocular hydatid in Algeria--a high endemic area. For this, the authors established a simple and reproductible electrophoretic techniques for iso enzyme analysis of protoscoleces. The enzymatic extracts of protoscoleces from various hosts and localisations of hidatic cystic analysed by these electrophoretic techniques showed variable electrophoretic profils witness the existence of various strains.

Algeria↗
PubMed1998

[Leishmaniasis diagnosis: role of a simple medium for the culture of Leishmania].

Leishmaniasis, Zoonoses or Anthroponoses, according to the focus, know an extension through the world and Algeria counts unfortunately more among countries who where touched. Parallelement to this extension the eco-epidemiology of leishmaniasis knex some important modifications and that. We can't surround theme if we don't dispose of a simple culture medium permeting the shoot of all species to leishmania.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

[Validation of DNA tools in the identification of Leishmania sp. parasites in Algeria].

The present study aimed at homogenizing the use of DNA tools for Leishmania parasite characterization in two endemic countries, Algeria and Tunisia. Two genomic DNA probes, pDK10 and pDK20, previously developped in Tunisia, were here applied to a collection of 41 isolates obtained from Algerian patients having cutaneous or visceral leishmaniases. These DNA tools allowed to discriminate among and to identify causal agents of cutaneous leishmaniasis, L. infantum and L. major. Apart from the pDK20--hybridization pattern obtained usually for the species L. infantum, new hybridization patterns were identified for isolates obtained from both visceral and cutaneous leishmaniases patients. Use of DNA probes in complement to isoenzyme typing offers interesting propects for a better description of transmission cycles.

Algeria↗
PubMed1998

[Cryptococcosis. Report of 4 cases diagnosed at the El-Hadi FLICI hospital].

The cryptococcosis is an opportunist infection, frequent during Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrom (A.I.D.S.). It increases in the same way as the increase of immunodepression factors. This infection is due essentially to Cryptococcus neoformans. This paper deals with the analysis of four (04) cases of cryptococcosis admitted in El-Hadi FLICI hospital in Algiers from November 1997 to February 1998. Among these cases we have taken note of two patients struck doxn by A.I.D.S., one of them have undergone a kidney transplant, whereas the other suffered from sarcoidose and pulmonary tuberculosis. The diagnostic of cryptococcosis have been based essentially on C.S.E. examination.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

[Note on imported malaria in metropolitan France from 1993 to 1995].

Concerning malaria, the role of the Reference National Centre on the Imported Diseases is to observe the cases that occur on the continent in order to describe their characteristics, assess their annual incidence and objectify the secular trend. The aim is to provide annual indicators to help to advise travellers. This surveillance is based on a voluntary network providing standardised informations on the epidemiologic, prophylactic, clinical, parasitologic and therapeutic data. After a noticeable increase between 1987 and 1988, the occurrence of the imported malaria cases in France decreased since 1989 then became stable since 1991, between 3,500 and 4,000 cases per year. From one year to another the characteristics of the cases are stable for most of the parameters. However, it is interesting to note: a progressive increase in the ratio of foreigners with a decrease of the median age, the average five days delay between the first symptoms and the diagnostic, the same ratio of severe cases for French people and foreigners, the average time of the stay at the hospital of 4.5 days for non severe malaria cases and the preferential use of halofantrine in first line treatment. The delay of the diagnostic and more precisely the delay of treatment turn-out to be the main factors leading to severe malaria sometimes leading to death. The limited interpretation of data is due to the lack of corresponding denominators required for measuring the rates and density of the incidence as well as the identification of risk factors.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Detection of serum antibodies against Leishmania 94 kDa antigen in visceral and cutaneous leishmaniosis due to Leishmania infantum.

Leishmania promastigotes polypeptides are analyzed by immunoblotting with sera from patients infected with different Leishmania species and presenting visceral or cutaneous infections. These sera recognize Leishmania polypeptides in several molecular masses. The major findings of this study are as follow. 1) The Leishmania 94 kDa antigen, which is specifically recognized by all sera from L. infantum-infected patients with visceral infection, is recognized by some sera from L. infantum-infected patients presenting cutaneous infection. 2) All patients with cutaneous infections due to L. tropica, L. amazonensis, or L. guyanensis do not develop anti-94 kDa antibodies, whatever the Leishmania species used as antigens. 3) Difference in electrophoretic mobilities is seen between the 94 kDa antigen identified by sera from Leishmania infantum-infected patients, and the antigen both recognized by the Concavalin A lectin and a rabbit antiserum raised against deglycosylated Promastigote Surface Protease.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

[Current point of leishmaniasis epidemiology in Algeria].

The authors describe in this study the current situation of cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis in Algeria. After a review of the clinical forms and the epidemiological profile of the diseases in this country, the authors mention a resurgence of the number of cases, and the appearance of numerous new foci for both forms of the disease.

Algeria↗
PubMed1992

[Visceral leishmaniasis in Algeria. Evolution of visceral leishmaniasis in the Grande Kabylie area (1985-1990)].

The authors report 285 cases of visceral leishmaniasis recorded over a 6 year-period from 1985-1990 in the Wilaya of Tizi-Ouzou (Grande Kabylie). The authors report a resurgence of this disease during the last years, with a 5 human cases per 100,000 annual prevalence and a 6 per cent of rate death, the most active part of mediterranean area appears to be the region of Grand-Kabylie. A control program in the Wilaya of Tizi-Ouzou is proposed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

[Urinary bilharziasis in Djidiouia: still nothing to report].

The authors carried out 1043 urine examinations to look eggs of Schistosoma haematobium in Djidiouia, a known focus of urinary schistosomiasis. All these examinations were negative. However, the authors recommend vigilance because of the existence of Bulinus, the snail intermediate host in the area.

Adolescent↗